I am doing a debate in school and i need reasons why France is to blame for WWI .?

Question

Not just simple obvious answers please. I already know the basics.

Answer 1

I think one of the better places to look for the cause of a war is in the war just preceeding it. In this case, that would be the Franco-Prussian War.

The Franco-Prussian War was initiated largely by France. Nervous about who would assume the throne of Spain, they sent demands to the King of Prussia to interfere. He cooperated, but that wasn't enough for France... they wanted him to renounce all future familial candidacy for the throne, which he denied (it may have been that he was just caught at a bad time for this one). The Prussian prime minister decided to fan the fires a bit by releasing a heavily slanted version of the encounter to the press, which was enough to enrage France and cause it to declare war.

The war didn't turn out well for France and they lost some of their territories to Germany before it was over. This started (or enflamed, depending on your point of view) an emnity between France and Germany. The Prussian prime minister kept up his tricks even after the war, leaking to the press that Germany intended to attack France again pre-emptively to prevent it from recovering its military strength.

After the war, a revolution in French government left them on somewhat shaky ground. There were still several strong parties wanting completely different types of government. About the only thing they could all agree on was that they wanted to get back at Germany. So they began arming and fortifying the border more and more with the eventual intention of doing just that.

This anti-German stance made them prime candidates to be allies of Russia, on Germany's other side. And thusly we have all the elements to spark a world war from what might have otherwise been a much more contained conflict:

If France hadn't been so staunchly against Germany and waiting for an opportunity to strike, Germany might have just gone to war with Russia - probably with disatrous consequences - and that would have been the end of that.

Instead, Germany was surrounded by enemies. That meant they had not only to take out one of them, but do it FAST. Russia needed time to muster and move forces but France did not. This made it the natural first target. France, however, was spoiling for a fight. So Germany cut through Belgium to help get around French defences.

Cutting through Belgium as a no-no. That was declared neutral ground, and it was this act that brought Britain into the war against Germany. And from there things just became an absolute mess.

So, in summary, you might say that France caused World War I because they:
- caused the Franco-Prussian war which destabilized the region and created emnities.
- threatened Germany's safety, even without any other causes.
- allied with Russia, making Germany attack more people than it wanted to.
- fortified against attack, forcing Germany into Belgian short-cuts.
- (and perhaps) didn't defeat Germany easily as they had hoped, which would have ended the whole thing right there.

Of course, causes for that particular war are so convoluted and manifold, that you could probably argue just about anyone was at fault if you wanted to. Still, hope that helps! Good luck!

Answer 2

The largest reason seems to be the French loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany in the Franco-Prussian war and a general sense of inferiority for loosing the war so easily. There were other minor squables, such as Morocco being given to France by Britain in 1904, and colonial jocking for power in Africa.

Answer 3

France over-reacted to the events surrounding the assassinstion of the Austrian archduke.

France was just itching to recover Alsace and Lorraine, provinces it had thought unjustly seized by Germany in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. So France was ready for another "go at it," despite the need for peace.

France had allowed itself to be locked into war-by-timetable. Once one country "mobilized," as it was called, every country else had to mobilize. The last country to mobilize lost.

(Pardon: You who are taking the debate case that France was to blame: Be careful on this one. Germany and Russia had strict mobilization schedules also.)

Answer 4

Post your question on Stormfront. Lots of really bright people from all over the world with different points of view on history.

Answer 5

Please go ot a bookstore or library. If you have the basics then you are at a very good startign point.

Answer 6

They were as spineless then as they are to this day.